The concept of weddings has changed over the years, with brides and grooms coming up with better ways to celebrate their big day. Several couples in Kerala are now planning sustainable events, and the Kochi-based event management company 'Stories by Maatam' makes this possible.
The initiative was founded by four architect friends, Visakha G Raj, Irin Joseph, Maria P Joy, and Martin S Koickal, soon after the success of their 'KAI-MAATAM', which promotes thrifting clothing and accessories. Both of them are part of their collective business project, 'MAATAM'.
'Stories by Maatam' primarily focuses on sustainable celebrations. “Our aim is to bring awareness to our community and give them an opportunity to enjoy their special moments without harming the environment,” said Maria.
According to Visakha, the idea is to reduce the celebration's environmental impact while simultaneously making it more memorable and emotional. “Our wedding decor uses locally procured biodegradable products which help reduce waste and support local communities,” she added.
Martin mentioned about their 'less is more' policy while discussing a couple of recent weddings they coordinated. “We have a great team of artisans who help us minimize and replace prints or plastics in the décor,” he said.
The wedding décor done by 'Stories by Maatam' mostly consists of rented accessories and locally sourced flowers such as marigold and jasmine. To add a personal touch, the team frequently adds antiques or any striking piece from the bride's home.
“Some of our customers actively share ideas with us on how to include eco-friendly components into their nuptials, and they come to us with a clear vision for sustainability. Conversely, there are couples that know very little about the idea. When this happens, we offer them substitutes that are consistent with our environmental ethos,” said Irin.
The founders are also in plan to engage in a multi-pronged approach to promote the initiative. This entails producing educational materials on eco-friendly festivities, working with groups that share similar values, contacting event coordinators to raise awareness, and taking part in sustainable wedding fairs.
Martin questioned, "What could be better than doing our part to protect our planet?" The other three nodded agreeing.
